Florida officials are looking into a "horrific" video that has gone viral of a shark being dragged behind a boat.

In the 10-second video posted to social media sites, including Facebook and Instagram, a shark can be seen being dragged by its tail at a high rate of speed.

"Look, it's already almost dead," said one man in the video while pointing at the shark.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials believe the video was recorded off the state's west coast.

"I've never seen a more horrific video as far as an animal is concerned in 50 years of shark fishing," Mark "The Shark" Quartiano, a popular shark hunter in south Florida, told Tampa ABC affiliate WFTS.

Quartiano, who posted the video to his Instagram account, said he was sent the disturbing footage by the man behind the wheel of the boat, Michael Wenzel. He also received a picture of the shark torn to pieces.

FWC officials say there is a grey area when it comes to the legality of dragging a shark, and would not comment further.